Paper parachute



Dec. 21, 1943.v D. B. HASTINGS 2,337,192

PAPER PARACHUTE Filed Jan. 1, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 21, 1943.. D.B. HASTINGS 2,337,192

PAPER PARACHUTE Filed Jan. 1, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 21,1943 PAPER PARACHUTE Dana B. Hastings, Framingham, Mass, asslgnor toDennison Manufacturing Company,

Framingham, Mass, a. corporation of Massachusetts Application January 1,1943, Serial No. 471,047 7 Claims. (01. 244-145) In the art ofaeronautics it is often desirable to drop articles of various kinds byparachute,

and in time of war there is of course far greater need for suchpractice, particularly for dropping food and other supplies to servicemen in inaccessible places. However the practice has been greatlyrestricted heretofore by the cost of parachutes.

Objects of the present invention are to provide a parachute which isinexpensive in construction, which will carry substantial loads, whichrequires only materials which are cheap and plentiful, which can bemanufactured rapidly and economically, and which is reliable inoperation.

According to the present invention the parachute comprlses a pluralityof segments of crepe paper having the creping extending lengthwise ofthe segments, the lower edges of the segments being reinforced and theadjoining margins of the segments being disposed in abuttingrelationship, in combination with radial tapes secured to the abuttingmargins and support cords hav-- ing their upper ends secured to thelower ends of the radial tapes. The tapes preferably have extensionsdepending from the lower edges of the segments for attachment to theaforesaid support cords. In the preferred form of the invention anopening is left at the top of the parachute and a tape is bound over theupper edges of the segments. The open top may be further reinforced by atop ring having its outer periphery secured to the upper edges of thesegments, preferably by cross-stitching with the tape secured over thecross-stitching. The top may also have reinforcing straps extendingacross the aforesaid opening in angular relationship to each other.

By employing crepe paper with the creping extending lengthwise of thesegments, the shock of opening does not split the parachute even thoughit is made of paper which tears fairly easily; and by securing theload-carrying cords to the lower ends of the radial tapes which aresecured to both edges of each pair of abutting segments, the load isdistributed throughout the area of the parachute so uniformly that thepaper does not tear when carrying loads up to 25 pounds and evengreater.

For the purpose of illustration a typical embodiment of the invention isshown in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a perspective viewof an open parachute attached to a board;

Fig, 2 is a similar view showing a package attached to the other side ofthe board;

Fig. 3 is a view of the combined package and parachute being droppedfrom an airplane;

Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the parachute unfolding;

Fig. 5 is a view of the parachute and package after the parachute hascompletely unfolded;

a Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the top portion of the parachute; and

Figs. 7 and 8 are detail views of parts of the parachute.

In the particular embodimentof the invention chosen for the purpose ofillustration C designates the parachute. P the package to be carried bythe parachute, B the board to the opposite sides of which the parachuteand package are attached and A an airplane from which the parachute andpackage are dropped. The parachute is attached to one side of the boardby means of a paper band D which surrounds the parachute and board, theparachute preferably being attached to the board before the package issecured in place. The package is preferably secured by two cords E whichpass through openings in the board and thence around the package; Theparachute may be attached to the cords E by means of two other cords F.For the purpose of permitting the parachute to open after it leaves theairplane a rip cord R has one end secured to the airplane and the otherend provided with a loop L surrounding the paper band D so as to breakthe band as shown in Fig. 4. By attaching the parachute as abovedescribed the load is on the upper side of the board during the descentof the parachute as illustrated in Fig. 5. Thus there is less danger ofdamaging the contents of the package when itlands because the board ison the under side.

The preferred embodiment of the parachute shown in the drawingscomprises segments 1 of crepe paper having the creping extendinglengthwise of the segments, that is radially of the parachute, asindicated by the shading in Fig. 6. Before the segments are securedtogether tapes 2 are bound over the lower edges of the segmentsrespectively. Then the adjacent edges of the segments are bent outwardlyat right angles into abutting relationship and tapes 3 are stitched overthese abutting edges and over the ends of the bottom tapes 2 .After thesegments have been joined together in this manner the upper edge of thebody of the parachute is bent outwardly as indicated at 4 in Fig. 8 andthis bent edge is secured by cross-stitching 6 to the outer periphery ofthe top of the parachute. The crossstitched edges are then bound with atape 1 which extends over the upper ends of the radial tape 3' and isstitched thereto.

The top part of the parachute preferably comtop preferably is providedwith an opening II to permit the escape of air. To prevent distortion ofthe top during manufacture one of the layers 8 and 9 is preferably notcut out until after all the parts have been stitched together. Then thefour segments between the straps are cut out. Thus the material of onelayer, the layer 9 in Fig. 6, has bridging portions on the under sidesof the straps l2 and 13, whereas the upper layer B is entirely open withno portions bridging the opening I I. After the parts are securedtogether as above described a reinforcing tape l4 may be stitched to theoutside of the parachute near the lower edges of the segments where thecircumferential strain is the greatest.

As shown in Fig. '7 the radial tapes 3 preferably have extensions 33extending below the lower edges of the segments l for attachment to thecords I6; and as shown in Fig. 5 the lower ends of the cord l6 aresecured together and to the two cords F leading to the load. I

From the foregoing it will be evident that even though the parachute ismade of material which tears easily and even though the shock of suddenopening is severe, this construction affords safe landings, particularlybecause of the creping lengthwise of the segments and the attachment ofthe support cords to the radial tapes which in turn are secured to eachof the tapes which extend circumferentially of the parachute, wherebythe load is distributed uniformly throughout all the segments.

It should be understood that the present disclosure is for the purposeof illustration only and that this invention includes allmodificationsand equivalents which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A para'chute comprising a plurality of seg-.

ments of crepe paper having the creping extending lengthwise thereof,reinforcement at the lower edges of the segments, the adjoining marginsof the segments being disposed in abutting relationship, radial tapessecured to said abuttin margins, and support cords having their lowerends secured together and their upper ends secured to the lower ends ofsaid radial tapes respectively.

2. A parachute comprising a plurality of segments of crepe paper havingthe creping extending lengthwise thereof, reinforcement at the loweredges of the segments, the adjoining margins of the segments beingdisposed in abutting relationship, radial tape secured to said abuttingmargins, the radial tape having extensions extending below the loweredges of the segments, support cords having their lower ends securedtogether and their upper ends secured to said extensions respectively,and top tape folded over the upper edges of said segments and stitchedthereto.

3. A parachute comprising a plurality of segments of crepe paper havingthe creping extending lengthwise thereof, bottom tape folded over thelower edge of each segment and bound thereto, the adjoining margins ofthe segments being bent into abutting relationship, radial tape foldedover said abutting margins and bound thereto, the racial tape havingextensions extending below the lower edges of the segments, supportcords having their lower ,ends secured together and @their upper endssecured to said extensions respectively, and top tape folded over theupper edges of said segments and stitched thereto.

4. A parachute comprising a plurality of segments of crepe paper havingthe creping extending lengthwise thereof, bottom tape folded over thelower edge of each segment and bound thereto, the adjoining margins ofthe segments including said bound edges being bent into abuttingrelationship, radial tape folded over said abutting margins and boundthereto, the radial tape having extensions extending below the loweredges of the segments, support cords having their lower ends securedtogether and their upper ends secured to said extensions respectively,and top tape folded over the upper edges of said segments and stitchedthereto. a

5. A parachute comprising a plurality of segments of. crepe paper havingthe creping extending lengthwise thereof, bottom tape folded over thelower edge of each segment and bound thereto, the adjoining margins ofthe segments including said bound edges being bent into abuttingrelationship, radial tape folded over said abutting margins and boundthereto, the radial tape having extensions extending below the loweredges of the segments, support cords having their lower ends securedtogether and their upper ends secured to said extensions respectively, acircular top, the adjacent edges of said top and said segments includingthe upper ends of said radial tape abutting each other and beingcross-stitched together, and top tape folded over said cross-stitchededges and stitched thereto.

6. A parachute comprising a plurality of segments of crepe paper havingthe creping extending lengthwise thereof, bottom tape folded over thelower edge of each segment and bound thereto, the adjoining margins ofthe segments including said bound edges being bent into abuttingrelationship, radial tape folded over said abutting margins and boundthereto, the radial tape having extensions extending below the loweredges of the segments, support cords'having their lower ends securedtogether an their upper ends secured to said extensions respectively, acircular top having a central opening therein, reinforcing strapsextending across the top in angular relation to each other and stitchedthereto, the adjacent edges of said top and said segments including theupper ends of said radial tape and the outer ends of said strapsabutting each other and being crossstitched together, and top tapefolded over said cross-stitched edges and stitched thereto.

'7. A parachute comprising a plurality of segments of crepe paper havingthe creping extending lengthwise thereof, bottom tape folded over thelower edge of each segment and bound-thereto, the adjoining margins ofthe segments including said bound edges being bent into abuttingrelationship, radial tape folded over said abutting edges and boundthereto, the radial tape having extensions extending below the loweredges of the segments, support cords' having their lower ends securedtogether and their upper ends secured to said extensions respectively, acircular top formed of two layers of crepe paper, the central portion ofat least one layer being cut out to form an opening therein, reinforcingstraps extending across the top in angular relation to each other andstitched thereto, the adjacent edges of said top and said segmentsincluding the upper ends of said radial tape abutting each other, saidadjacent edges being crossstitched together, and top tape folded oversaid cross-stitched edges and stitched thereto.

DANA B. HASTINGS.

